No Game No Life - Volume 6 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD 
Let me tell you a story… Oh, just a little story from a few months ago. It was, yes—just around the time I was writing the ending of Volume 5. Suddenly, my mobile phone rang and vibrated, whereupon I picked it up to discover it was my editor, Ms. Fishboard. 
“I know you’re not done with Volume 5 yet, but, if you please, make sure you finish the next one by the time the anime airs! ? ” 
…I see, so she calls me before I’ve delivered Volume 5—well aware of the hideous state I’m in—to solicit the next. That’s my editor for you. I must commend her gumption. If she didn’t have such a fine personality , I suppose she wouldn’t make much of an editor, and it makes me shed a tear for the deep karma in which her trade is mired—but that’s one thing, and this is another. 
At this point, Volume 6 was supposed to be about the game against Old Deus. I didn’t have confidence that, before the anime aired (when I’d likely be swamped with illustration work), I’d be able to pull it off in time. When I told her this frankly and forthrightly, she suggested: 
“What about that idea for ‘Volume 0’ you described? Could you make that into Volume 6?” 
I see, the age in which the Old Dei and their relations ran amok—the Great War. The plot relating to its end and how Disboard was created —I did have something like that. It’s also true that I was somewhat hesitant to head into the game against Old Deus before working up how absolute Old Deus is. I hadn’t entirely nailed down the plan for the game against Old Deus, either, so— 
“All right. Let’s go with that.” 
Even a jellyfish would have been aghast to witness the fool who’d given this response. To describe the Great War and its conclusion in a single volume, fully developing all the characters and races involved and making that work with the main story—even someone with a working brain the size of a mitochondrion should have been capable of grasping what an epically unreasonable task that would be. At the time, though, the magnitude had not occurred to me in the slightest, you see…… 
 …… 
With that in mind… Nice to see you again! It’s that fool Kamiya. I have survived up to now by means of a canon of friends and acquaintances singing my folly. Still, I would like you to imagine for a moment the great and wise figures who made massive, revolutionary contributions to modern man—to our civilization. For now, I would like you to imagine Columbus. 
—Christopher Columbus. I am sure I need not tell you that he discovered the Americas. Well, we’ll put aside the argument for now of whether that was a good thing… He embarked across the vast Atlantic Ocean when no one knew for sure what lay beyond, pressing only this courage, wisdom, knowledge to his bosom: Go west . His crew burdened with fears, they just went west, west, west. And, at last, at the very west, they arrived in the Americas—and came back! Their safe return could only have been supported by their wit and knowledge, their wisdom! For that, he is called a great man, and he is called a great man because he was a wise man!! 
But still. I’d like you to step back for a moment and think about it objectively now. Certainly, those who ventured on a great journey and returned were wise. Considering that if they weren’t, they’d probably never have made it back. Then, yes, I’m sure the perceptive among you, my dear readers, have already realized—if they hadn’t made it back, they’d just have been called fools. Of course, they would have. It’s fundamental. What kind of idiot sets sail for some continent that may or may not be there? If they really had brains, they’d stay the hell on land , you’d say. What kind of wise man would take that kind of risk? What’s the point of risking your life on a gamble like that? 
Yes! As I have just illustrated, that in which humans should truly take pride is not wisdom. Folly is the driving force of humanity, and it is by avoiding being killed by that folly that we hone our wit! Therefore! At this juncture! I shall stand proud, cowed by no one! To say it loud! Yes—I—am a fooooool!!! 
QED—self-justification complete! What do you think of this bulletproof theory? You can fall in love with me, you know! 
“…Are you quite done spouting self-satisfied sophistry in an attempt to excuse your wanton trampling of our deadlines?” 

But of course, Ms. Fishboard. Thanks for getting on your hands and knees in front of everyone on my behalf. ( chomp chomp ) 
“Excuse me, this time, we were really, reaaally pushing it. I polished the floor with my forehead three times, you know?!” 
Well, of course I’m very grateful for all that. 
—But, um, can I say what I’m thinking? 
“……Uh, uh, well, um—” 
You had me write a new side story for the official anime site, write more for all the various bonuses, check the scripts, check the licensed stuff, draw a boatload of new illustrations— I don’t know how much I’m allowed to disclose, so I’ll stop there. But you wrote, “Hurry and get the damn manuscript in,” and on the very next line, you wrote, “Also, I need you to do these things, too, okay?” What followed was a huge list, and all this forces me to question your human integrity. ( dimpled smile ) 
“Ah-ha-ha, why blame me for that? You could blame the producer.” 
( casually ) Oh, can I? 
“( casually ) Sure, why not? ? ” 
Then let us declare that the war criminal who plotted to work me to death is “P.” 
“I concur! So now’s the time—( glance )” 
Oh, yes. For promotion, you mean. You’re telling me to blatantly advertise it, are you? Ahem… 
Now—!! No Game No Life , the TV anime—!! By the time this book is on store shelves, it should already be airing. I participated in just about every script conference, and by the producer’s suggestion, the first episode is intentionally based not on the original novel, but the manga version my wife and I are drawing together. It has the structure I redesigned for the manga, and I even wrote one of the scripts myself. The visual specifications were set by me and the director while laughing our asses off, and all in all, I have no complaints about how it turned out as the author. I suppose that you, the readers, should be able to enjoy it as well. I fervently hope that you find both it and this volume to your liking. 
So with that, it’s about time for me to—oh, just one last thing, a request I have. 
…Please don’t hate Jibril. Now she’s a different—well, I guess she isn’t, but…anyway, you know. Yeah… 
“What? After writing it yourself—?!” 
All right, here I go. I hope you pick up the next volume as well.